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Glenn Close, Jeff Daniels, Joely Richardson, Joan Plowright, Hugh Laurie ... see more see more... , Mark Williams , John Shrapnel , Hilda Braid , Hugh Fraser , Tim McInnerny

There are more puppies than you can shake a rolled up newspaper at in this live-action remake of the Disney animated favorite 101 Dalmatians. Roger (Jeff Daniels) is a designer of computer games who s... read more read more...hares his home with his pet dalmatian, Pongo. One day, Roger takes Pongo for a walk in the park and the dog sets his eyes on a beautiful female dalmatian named Perdy. Perdy likes Pongo as much as he likes her, and thankfully Perdy's mistress, a fashion designer named Anita (Joely Richardson), is quite taken with Roger. Romance blooms between the human and canine couples, and Roger and Anita tie the knot (Pongo and Perdy are apparently still living in sin). Anita works for Cruella De Vil (Glenn Close), an intense fashion maven whose lust for fur doubtless places her high on PETA's hit list. Inspired by her dogs, Anita finds herself working up a design for a fur coat made with spotted fur, and Cruella leaps on the idea of making garments out of real dalmatians. But where to get the animals? Cruella has two nasty but not especially intelligent henchmen, Jasper (Hugh Laurie) and Horace (Mark Williams), who've been known to kill the odd endangered species at madame's request. Now they're sent on a mission to round up dalmatians, and when they fall a bit short of their goal, it comes to Cruella's attention that Perdy has just given birth to a litter of 15 pups. For this version, a number of real dalmatian puppies were combined with computer-generated animation and animatronic creatures from Jim Henson's Workshop, who respond better to direction (and are doubtless easier to clean up after) than the real thing. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

47% liked it

565,244 ratings

Critics

39% liked it

33 critics

G, 1 hr. 43 min.

Directed by: Stephen Herek

Release Date: November 29, 1996

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DVD Release Date: April 21, 1998

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Stats: 18,185 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (18,185)

  • FiLmCrAzY
    March 29, 2012
    FiLmCrAzY
    I love the cartoon version of 101 dalmations but i still very much enjoy this movie as well! Its funny, a great cast and you just have to love all the dalmation puppies!
  • aquateen2
    January 29, 2012
    aquateen2
    This is one of the most boring, dull, annoying and most unnecessary live action remakes of all time. Honestly, who wants to watch some trashy remake when they can watch the original heartwarming animated classic. There's a good Cruella performance but apart from that all I can sa... read morey is. Why?
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    September 25, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    The live adaptation of the classic 101 Dalmatians is simply terrible. The film fails to succeed in capturing the essence of the classic Disney animated version. I felt that the idea was good, but the film lacked so much in terms of quality and elaborate script. The film can be se... read moreen as a remake of sorts because it's almost a shot for short film, aside from a few added scenes and updated elements. The cast do their best with the lacking script, but unfortunately their acting can't save the film. Even Glenn Close can't save this film, and she was the best in the film. The film is a disappointment and will most likely disappoint fans of the animated classic. The film is a good attempt, but ultimately it fails, and is one of the worst live action Disney films that I've seen. I really enjoyed the animated film as a kid, but this, this was horrible. 101 Dalmatians is a film that hasn't stood the test of time, unlike the original. This version is too silly, too stupid, and too poorly executed to enjoy., Maybe kids will enjoy, but really as a family film, there are far better family films out than this one, and that includes the superior animated classic. This is a missed opportunity, and it just shows that some films aren't meant to be remade. This film fails to entertain, and when it tries to do something amusing, you just don't care because it's been done better before. A stupid, pointless film that just misses the mark. Awful film.
  • DreamExtractor
    August 15, 2011
    DreamExtractor
    Terrible, simple as tha, it was boring and just a chessy live action remake.
  • spielberg00
    August 12, 2011
    spielberg00
    Good+
  • ajv2688
    July 8, 2011
    ajv2688
    If you loved the original movie so much that you wished the people were real, see this movie. If you think, like me, that the original was great and works best as a cartoon, don't see this movie. The actors are well known, and try their best in this, but the story is too ridicu... read morelous to be live action. This movie is okay, but the animated film is much better.
  • murphmann93
    June 24, 2011
    murphmann93
    A childhood favourite and a classic!
  • jennifxu
    April 28, 2011
    jennifxu
    Glenn Close, I love you, but this is beneath you.
  • ythelastman89
    January 25, 2011
    ythelastman89
    It was a pretty decent remake of the animated classic with a really nutty performance from a very devoted Glenn Close. My main complaint is that none of the animals talk. It essentially eliminates half of the story. All you're left with is a love story and a crazy lady, which is ... read moreokay, but not great.
  • fb733768972
    September 11, 2010
    fb733768972
    It's not the greatest disney film, but for what it is all cracked up to be, it succeeds wonderfully. It's raw, and seems like there is a lot missing, but I found it very enjoyable.

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Critic Reviews

Maria Llull
January 2, 2011
Maria Llull, Common Sense Media

All-ages spotted canine caper updates classic. Full Review

David Nusair
January 29, 2009
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews

...an entertaining, surprisingly charming update of the Disney's 1961 animated classic. Full Review

Kevin Carr
September 21, 2008
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures

as good of a live-action Cruella as we could expect Full Review

Douglas Pratt
June 15, 2007
Douglas Pratt, DVDLaser

the film is reasonably efficient and combines enough fantasy and humor to hold one's interest.

Jeffrey Westhoff
May 29, 2003
Jeffrey Westhoff, Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

To find the biggest source of problems with this remake, take a look at the producer's name. 101 Dalmatians is Disney's first joint venture with John Hughes,

Scott Weinberg
July 25, 2002
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com

Rather pointless literalization of a great cartoon that didn't need it.

Robert Roten
January 1, 2001
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope

This is very harmless entertainment for kids with a non-so-subtle anti fur coat message. It is not quite up to adult standards, however. Full Review

Steve Rhodes
January 1, 2000
Steve Rhodes, Internet Reviews

This time they simply forget the part that made the original work -- the dogs' story. Full Review

Michael Dequina
January 1, 2000
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com

Close's Cruella matches her animated counterpart's nastiness and then some; her hilariously over-the-top turn is sure to influence drag queens everywhere. Full Review

Owen Gleiberman
September 7, 2011
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Facts

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    • Cruella De Vil: Anyway you want. Poison them! Drown them! Bash them on the head! Got any chlorophyl? I don't care how you kill the little beasts, just do it, and do it now!
  • Only six of the original 15 Dalmatian puppies are named: Jewel, Two-Tone, Dipstick, Lucky, Whizzer, and Fidget.
  • Steak juice was rubbed on the actors skin to get the dogs to lick them.
  • According to Jeff Daniels (Roger) that on more than one occasion he heard an authoritative voice on the set shout "Sit!", and he immediately plopped himself into the nearest chair only to be told: "Not you, Jeff."
  • So many dogs. So little time.
  • This Time, The Magic Is Real.
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101 Dalmatians : Watch Free on TV

101 Dalmatians Trivia

  • How many dalmatians were there in the original family in 101 Dalmatians?  Answer »
  • What were there 6,469,952 of in Disney's 101 Dalmatians?  Answer »
  • What movie is Ms. De vil from  Answer »
  • I starred in 101 Dalmatians (live action), Fatal Attraction, The World According to Garp, and had a bit role in Hook. Who am I?  Answer »
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